Masters of mud

On the 27th and 28th of September, the Red Bull Motocross of Nations, the biggest and longest running event in World Championship Motocross, comes to the UK. It is the only occasion where the best riders in the world come together and compete with great pride and enthusiasm for their colours.

After last years success in the States, Donington Park will this year provide the backdrop for the best riders in the world as they come together for what is often referred to as the ‘World Cup of Motocross.’ Since it’s inception in 1947, when the UK team won the first Motocross of Nations held in the Netherlands, the event has become the most prestigious fixture in the Motocross calendar.

20 countries compete

For 2008 Donnington will see 20 countries bring three riders to compete in the MX1, MX2 and Open disciplines, and the United States, Belgium and Great Britain will be looking to continue their historic successes, whilst France will be hoping to build on their podium finish in the 2007 Motocross of Nations. The Leicestershire parkland circuit’s MotoGP and WSBK experience should easily deal with the popularity of the end-of-season team event, which was held at Budds Creek in the USA in 2007.

Simpson to challenge the pros

For the 2008 Motocross of Nations Great Britain will be represented by Red Bull riders Tommy Searle (MX2), and Shaun Simpson (Open). Tommy’s World Championship form has seen him take his first double victory to lead the Series after Round 7. He’s a big fan of the Donington Park circuit and achieved excellent results at the MXGP in 2007. Shaun's place on the team was less certain, but his form has stepped up a gear recently and he is starting to regularly challenge the established riders for podium places at events in Bulgaria and Sweden.

"I dreamt of competing in this race.."

Shaun commented: “It is the first MX of Nations I am racing in myself. It is going to be an exciting race, but different to other World races, due to the countries emotion involved in this. It is going to be the best race of the year. When I was a small boy, I dreamt of competing in this race and now it has become a reality. Winning the race is going to be hard, as the US has a really good team, but with Tommy Searle in the team, we are also very competitive and should certainly be able to get on the podium.”

 

Brits keen to please

The US will come to Donington with a strong team made-up of James Stewart, Ryan Villopoto and Tim Ferry, and the much-fancied French team will include Sebastien Pourcel and Nicolas Aubin. Despite the US and France being favourites, the Great Britain team will be pressing hard to please the country’s Motocross fans on the legendary Donington Park circuit.